Morning Sixpack: A News Roundup

Homeless Man Was Torched With Flare Robert Winton of the L.A. Times reports Deputy D.A. William Hodgman's charge that Ben Matthew Martin set fire to John Robert McGraham (not, as reported, "McGrath") with a road flare after dousing the homeless man with gasoline in an L.A. alley last fall. Martin, arrested last week, faces torture-murder counts and remains in custody.

Fauxtox Doc: I'm Innocent Dr. Cary Hansen pleads not guilty to injecting patients with fake botox in his Sunset Strip office. Fred Shuster's City News Service wire story is picked up by the L.A. Daily News.

Eight is Enough? All eight of the Bellflower octuplets are in stable condition after a yet-to-be-identified mother gave birth to them at a Kaiser Permanente hospital. The multiple deliveries represent only the second such recorded births.

The Curious Case Against Benjamin Button Defamer speculates how Benjamin Button could completely wipe out on Oscar Night and go 0 for 13. "Be afraid, Paramount," warns the piece.

Bike License Program Halted The L.A. Times reports that the Los Angeles City Council has suspended the controversial (now that it's even known) LAPD program for issuing bicycle licenses to Angelenos. (Read Devin Browne's L.A. Weekly story about one rider's frustrations with the licensing process.)